Keeping a Journal

By Doreene Clement

Writing, expressing can heal us. It can focus, support, and enhance our
lives and well-being. Whether we laugh or we cry, whether through sorrow
or joy, we can understand more about ourselves, and each other, through
keeping a journal.

Journaling
On a piece of paper, write your answers to the question,
"Which 3 words best describe how you are feeling right now?"

When you are done writing, you have just journaled.

Writing about whatever is important to you right then and there is
journaling. Tracking what you have planted in your garden is journaling.
Writing about the family holidays together, or coffee with a friend is
journaling. There is no set amount of words or pages that constitutes a
journal. There can be a set theme or topic in your journal, but there does
not have to be. I have written about soup, the weather, myself, my
friends, and my dreams for the future, in my journal. A journal, which is
the same as a diary, is a place where you choose to store what is
important to you.

When to start journaling
Any day of any year is a good time to start your journal. The day you feel
you want to start recording your experiences and thoughts is the perfect
day to start - Whether on January 1, November 3, or today. There is no
set time of year to begin a journal or to start to journal again.

Some people like the idea of starting their journal on January 1. They
write their goals and ideas starting at the beginning of the year. Others
like the idea of starting the very day it occurs to them that they want to
write about their lives in a journal. Whatever you choose, it is the right
way for you, and that is all that matters.

What to journal in
There are a lot of choices of where to record all those thoughts,
feelings, ideas, dreams, and desires. What you will write in and what you
will write with again is up to you. Try several choices, several types of
books, and several types of pens or pencils. Find the tools that fit you.
You can also record your journal on tape, video, or the computer. Writing
a letter can be another form of journaling your experiences.

What to write about
I know of a woman who wants to be a comedian. In her journal she writes a
joke a day. Another person had been stuck for several years writing her
novel. She started to journal about writing her novel and gained the
focus she needed. She finished her novel within a few months. Another
person tracks every penny he spends in his journal.

The beauty of keeping a journal is that it is your book. You get to choose
not only when to write, but what to write.

How much I write in my journal
Journaling is about what you want to express that day so, you can write as
much or as little as you want - A word, a thought or two, pages, you
choose.

Remembering to journal
Place your journal where you will see it every day. I do not mind taking
vitamins, but if I do not see them I do forget to take them. Place your
journal on your nightstand or where you have coffee in the morning. I keep mine
on my desk, where I will see it everyday.

Part of keeping a journal, for me, is skipping a day, or maybe four. I
usually write every day, but some days I do not. I forget to write or I do
not get to it, or I have nothing to say that day. Skipping a day is a part
of keeping a journal.

Keeping your journal safe
You may want to have a special secret place for your journal so no one
else can read it. You can keep it in a locked box, or tuck it away. You
can also ask the people around you not to read your journal. It is private
and only concerns you. As you journal about specific events or people you
can also use code words for those experiences. It is important that you
feel safe writing about your thoughts so, think about how you can create
that for yourself in your own environment.

With the passage of time, we gain a different perspective. Time is a
healer. What was once hard, or unbearable, can now make more sense,
giving us a clearer picture. Recording and tracking our lives, by keeping
a journal, can actually bring relief, clarity, joy, and laughter.

About the Author

Doreene Clement is the creator of The 5 Year Journal, a journal where you
can write about your life in one book for 5 years. You can tour the book
at www.the5yearjournal.com |
dkcomni@aol.com 480.423.8095